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Swiss tribunal to decide on bail for Roman Polanski in 2 to 3 weeks, officials say

November 17, 2009 | 11:37
am

Swiss justice officials said they will decide within the next few weeks whether to allow Roman Polanski to go free on bail.

Polanski is behind bars in a Zurich prison, awaiting possible extradition to Los Angeles to face sentencing after he pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl more than 30 years ago. Polanski fled L.A. just before sentencing from a judge that the famed director felt was treating him unfairly. Polanski has said he would fight extradition.

Officials of the Federal Criminal Tribunal in Switzerland said that body will soon decide whether Polanski, 76, can be set free on bail.

"A decision on the matter will probably be issued in the next two to three weeks," Mascia Gregori Al-Barafi told the AFP news agency.

Swiss officials have said Polanski would face up to two years in prison if he returned to Los Angeles.